Best Memory Cards for Canon EOS 5DS R
The Canon EOS 5DS R is a resolution monster, pushing a staggering 50.6 megapixels that can easily choke a slow storage card. When you’re capturing that much detail, your files are massive, and a bottleneck at the card slot means missing the next shot while your buffer clears. I’ve tested various configurations, and while this camera has dual slots, not all cards are created equal. For most pros, the SanDisk Extreme Pro CF remains the gold standard for reliable, high-speed performance.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Best Memory Cards for Canon EOS 5DS R: Detailed Reviews
SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash View on Amazon View on B&H
If you are shooting with a 5DS R, you are likely chasing ultimate detail, and the SanDisk Extreme Pro CF card is the only way to ensure the camera’s hardware isn’t waiting on the media. Since the 5DS R features a UDMA 7 compatible CF slot, this card maxes out the internal bus speed. I’ve found that when shooting 5fps bursts of 50MP RAW files, this card clears the buffer significantly faster than any SD card could. It’s built like a tank, resistant to temperature extremes, and highly reliable. The only real “downside” is that CF technology is aging, so you’ll need a dedicated reader for your workflow. However, for the 5DS R, this is the primary slot for a reason. It handles the 60-80MB individual file sizes with ease, making it my top recommendation for any serious high-res shooter.
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Lexar Professional 1066x CF View on Amazon View on B&H
Lexar has long been the main rival to SanDisk, and their 1066x CF card offers nearly identical performance at a often lower price point. For 5DS R users who find themselves filling up cards quickly—which is easy to do when RAW files are this large—the Lexar provides a great balance of speed and cost-per-gigabyte. It supports UDMA 7, meaning you get that snappy 160MB/s read speed that makes offloading images to your computer much less of a chore. I’ve used these for years in various Canon bodies, and they perform admirably in the 5DS R during long landscape sessions. While some older Lexar batches had mixed reliability reviews after the brand changed hands, the current Professional line has proven itself as a stable, high-performance option that won’t break the bank when you need to buy multiple 128GB or 256GB cards.
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SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-I View on Amazon View on B&H
The Canon 5DS R has a bit of a limitation: its SD card slot is only UHS-I compatible. This means that even if you buy the fastest $300 UHS-II card, the camera will only write at UHS-I speeds (usually topping out around 95MB/s). Because of this, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-I is actually the most logical choice for the second slot. It is incredibly affordable and reliable. I typically use this slot for “Overflow” or as a JPEG backup. Be warned: if you set the camera to “Record Separately” (RAW to CF and RAW to SD), the camera will slow down to match the SD card’s speed. However, for those who just need extra storage or a cheap way to get started with this high-resolution beast, you cannot beat the reliability and value of this classic SanDisk SD card.
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Delkin Devices Cinema CF View on Amazon View on B&H
For photographers who shoot in grueling environments—think dusty deserts or freezing mountain peaks—the Delkin Devices Cinema CF card is a rugged alternative to the mainstream brands. While it shares the same UDMA 7 peak speeds as the SanDisk, Delkin puts a massive emphasis on build quality and rigorous testing. In my experience, these cards feel a bit more substantial in the hand and have a reputation for surviving physical stress better than most. With the 5DS R’s 50MP files, data integrity is everything; one corrupted bit could ruin a massive print. Delkin also offers a “LifeTime Warranty” that is often cited as one of the best in the industry. It’s a premium investment, but for a professional whose livelihood depends on every frame being saved correctly, it provides peace of mind that is well worth the extra few dollars.
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Transcend 800x CompactFlash View on Amazon View on B&H
The Transcend 800x is a fantastic middle-ground card. While it doesn’t quite reach the 160MB/s heights of the 1066x or the SanDisk Extreme Pro, it is still very fast and incredibly reliable. For studio photographers who aren’t shooting rapid-fire bursts but still want the physical robustness of a CF card over an SD card, this is a brilliant choice. I often suggest these for travel because they are widely compatible and very consistent. You’ll still get UDMA 7 support, and the write speeds are more than enough for the 5DS R’s 1080p video (though let’s be honest, you aren’t buying this camera for the video). It’s an “also great” choice because it does everything well without being the absolute fastest or the absolute cheapest. It’s the reliable workhorse that just works every time you plug it in.
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Buying Guide: How to Choose Memory Cards for Canon EOS 5DS R
Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Extreme Pro CF | Ultimate Speed | ★★★★★ | Check |
| Lexar Professional 1066x CF | Best Value | ★★★★☆ | Check |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro SD | Secondary Slot | ★★★★☆ | Check |
| Delkin Devices Cinema CF | Extreme Durability | ★★★★★ | Check |
| Transcend 800x CF | Budget Capacity | ★★★★☆ | Check |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use UHS-II SD cards in the Canon 5DS R?
Yes, you can physically use UHS-II SD cards in the 5DS R, but you won’t get any speed benefit. The camera’s SD slot is only designed with the pins for UHS-I. The card will default to the slower UHS-I speed, usually around 95-100MB/s. It is better to save your money and buy high-quality UHS-I cards or invest that extra cash into a faster CompactFlash card which the camera can actually utilize properly.
How many photos can a 64GB card hold on the 5DS R?
With the 50.6MP sensor, a 64GB card will typically hold approximately 600 to 700 RAW files. If you are shooting RAW+JPEG, that number drops to around 450-500. For a full day of professional shooting or a wedding, 64GB is often the bare minimum. I personally recommend 128GB cards to ensure you don’t have to swap media in the middle of a critical moment, especially when shooting high-action sequences.
Does the 5DS R support 256GB or larger cards?
Yes, the Canon EOS 5DS R supports the exFAT file system, which allows it to use large capacity cards like 256GB and 512GB without issue. This is particularly useful for landscape photographers who may be out in the field for several days without access to a computer. Just ensure your card reader also supports high-capacity cards so you can offload those hundreds of gigabytes of data efficiently when you return.
Is there a speed penalty for using both card slots?
Yes, there is. If you set the camera to “Record to Multiple,” it will write the data to both the CF and SD cards simultaneously for backup. Because the SD slot is slower (UHS-I) than the CF slot (UDMA 7), the camera’s buffer will clear at the speed of the slower SD card. For maximum burst performance, you should record only to the CF slot or use the SD slot only for overflow storage.
What is UDMA 7 and why does it matter?
UDMA 7 (Ultra Direct Memory Access) is the latest protocol for CompactFlash cards, allowing for transfer speeds up to 167 MB/s. The Canon 5DS R was specifically designed to take advantage of this protocol. Using a non-UDMA 7 card will significantly limit how fast the camera can move data from its internal buffer to the card, leading to longer “busy” messages and slower operation during high-resolution shooting sessions.
Final Verdict
For the Canon EOS 5DS R, your choice of memory card directly impacts your shooting experience. If you’re a professional working in a studio or on high-end landscapes, stick with the SanDisk Extreme Pro CF as your primary card—it’s the most reliable way to handle those 50MP files. For those on a budget, the Lexar 1066x offers nearly identical speeds for less. Always keep a SanDisk SD card in the second slot for peace of mind and redundant backup.